Arch-supporter.



e.vw. McSWEENEY. ARCH SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FIL ED APR. 20,1917- RENEWED SEPT. 5, 1918- 1,281,987. I Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

iii a GEDEGE W. GSWEENEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB. OF ONE-THIRD '10 MACK MIT n? HEINLICH roan, n. r.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1 on'n-rnmn 'ro rnomns m. BRENNAN, BOTH or new aacn-snrroa'rna. I

Application filed April 20, 1917, Serial No. 168,494. Renewed September 5, 1918. Serial No. 252,791.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn W. McS wnn- NEY, a citizen of the United States, res1d1ng at Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State .of New York, have invented certain new the invention, such as will enable others '10 skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to arch supporters, and more articularly to that type placed in shoes to e evate certain portions of the foot above the surface of the insole of the shoe.

The objects of this invention are to provide a device which may readily be placed in a shoe and which is so constructed that it will restore the arch of the foot to its normal position and prevent subsequent collapse of the arch, also, to provide a soft s rmgy cushion heel directly in contact with t e under portion of the heel, just as nature provided it should be.

Other objects of the invention are to prevent the dropping of thefoot inwardly, the flattening of the arch, the abduction of the front of the foot, to prevent the astragulus- 5 from moving forward and inward on the os calcis causing pronation and the rolling inward of the foot, and a lowering of the .front of the 0s calcis. It prevents the heel from inclining outwardly and the tendo acbillis' from curving upward and inward causing it to rise vert1cally, providing a 7 means which will give the foot a normal support and help keep the proper body balance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will help prevent the tired feeling, the pain in the foot, heel, sole, base of tee, and calf of the leg, common to those sufiering with flat feet. It helps to prevent the relaxation of the muscles whose tendons cross the sole of the foot. The progress of coxa vara (bow legs} and coxa valga (knock bees) is impeded to a marked degree, and such cases when due to flat feet,

are often materially benefited. The device will prevent 'the unnecessary stretching of the lateral hgaments of the knee joint in cases of coxa vara and coxa valga.

Patented @ct. 15, 1918.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will help to do away with the j olting and traumatism of the bones and Joints of the lower extremities and spinal column while walking, not alone to those afliicted with fiat feet, but also, to those whose feet are in normal condition, by placmg a soft comfortable rubber cushion directly beneath the os calcis. Said cushion will insure comfort and ease in standing, walking, dancing or running, and will entirely remedy any disagreeableness experienced through walking, standing or general use of the feet. It also provides means to prevent the formation of callus or blisters on the sole or heel of the foot. With the use of the cushion heel, one may dispense with the rubber heel attached to the shoe, which invariably has a portion of hard leather intervening,'for a soft, light springy cushion in direct contact with the heel itself.

A further object of this device is to provide a hard rubber supporter which is perfectly sanitary, light in weight, water-proof,

indestructible by wear, easily cleansed, and

will not retain the heat produced by the body temperature. It will not cause the feet to perspire and will not retain any perspiration or odor caused by the same, which is so common to those sufi'ering with fiat feet.

With these and other objects in view, this invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and will then be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring tothe drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the device,

or substantially all Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4; is a transverse sectional view as on the line 4i of Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a similar view on Fig. i,

Fig. 6 is a similar view as on the line 6-43 of Fig. i, and,

Fig. '8' is a similar view as on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Ilhe supporter as set forth in this specihcation will preferably be made of hard rubher, colored as desired, and it will conform generally in its marginal shape to that of the ordinary shoe, or to the foot of the person in connection with which, the device is to be used. The device comprises a body (A) which has a concaved heel portion as at (d) to receive the heel of a user, and to give the heel a certain amount of firmness so that it will not slip forward, backward, or to the side, giving a support to the ankle joint and-preventing it from twisting or turnin on itself.

lin 51c center of the concavity (d) is a circular recess (e), in which, a soft rubber pad or cushion (E) is inserted, which serves as a cushion for the os calcis.

The-device hasan elevated part (f) on the inner side, which curves gradually from the heel portion (a) to the toe portion (m) so as to be substantially higher at (n) than at any other portion of the part (7), and thi elevation (i extends from part (a for the heel bone, to a point approximately adjacent to where the distal end of the metatarsal bone would be located.

A raised part or longitudinal ridge (:1?) is formed near the outer edge, opposite to the part and like the part (f), is higher near t e outer edge than at the inner part midway or said device. The part (w) is somewhat lower than the part and this outside support extends from t e heel portion (9) or the device, for wardly beneath the shafts of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones to a point approximately adjacent to (it) where the distal end of said bones would be located. lhis part (:13) supports the outer arch of the foot, the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones and supports the ligaments and tendons of the muscles in the region of the outer malleolus. lt prevents the foot from sliding outward and downward, andacts as a' greater support for the ankle joint, thereby preventing twisting and turning. it also prevents unnecesary spreading of the foot, and holds the metatarsal bones closer together. By acting as a support to the outer side of the foot, part causes the abduction of the connnon feet, to disappear.

line 5-5 of rem t-ear At the anterior border or the device is an oblong elevation (0), which is located d1- rectly underneath the heads of the inner metatarsal bones, extending from the inner border of the device (f) to the inner border of the part (re). This part (0) in conjunction with the anterior portion of part (w) acts as a support for the heads oi the metatarsal bones and allows a liberal amount of motion to the phalanges. It also helps to distribute the pressure of the weight of the body equally on the foot.

The innervfiange (f) already described,

supports the inner metatarsal bones, holding in'place, the entire inner arch, preventing the dropping inward of the foot, the flattening of the arch, and the marked raising of the terminal phalanx of the great too. lit also strengthens the inner portion of the ankle point and in conjunction with the part (w), prevents the twisting or turning of the ankle joint itself.

The arched portion (0) of the device extends irom the heel portion (5) forward to the line 4-4:. in conjunction with the heel portion (2') and the portion at the exterior art or the device, the portion (0) helps to equally distribute the pressure of the weight of the body on the foot.

it is apparent from the foregoing that this device has been developed in view or the particular requirements of feet with fallen arches, and also, with full consideration of the joints of the root bones, so that each joint, subject to distortion is provided 2. In an arch supporter, a hard body portion having a concaved heel receiving portion, and an arched trough-like shank extending "forwardly therefrom, and having a continuous ridge therealong spaced from the inner edge of said body portion.

3. In an arch supporter, a hard body per.

tion, a concaved heel receiving portion, an arched shank extending forwardly there: from having elevated edges, and an elevated central portion at the forward end and the elevated outer edge being formed by a continuous ridge having its crest inwardly oi the extreme edge.

in an arch supporter, a hard body pertion having a; damned heel receiving portion, an arched extension therefrom, having the arch terminate near the forward end of the extension, and elevated edges along said arched shank, forming a trough to properl v position the foot of the user, the outer eievated ed e comprising a continuo'us broad ridge aving' its crest dis osed inwardly of the-edge to underlie an supr: certain of the metatarsal bones of the o0 arch supporter of the class described, a hard body portion reinovably carried in a shoe, said hard body portion having a concaved heel receiving portion and an arched shank extending forwardly there-:

from, said concave heel receiving portion x having a yieldable cushion mounted therein to cushion shocks transmitted through the. 20

heel of the shoe.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysigna- GEORGE w. McSWEENEY. 

